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ANTI FLAG - "American Spring" LP
When I heard this was coming I was a bit curious, so when I had a chance to stream it (via Amnesty International's Art
for Amnesty) I jumped at it as soon as I had the time. The new album from Anti Flag unleashes more of the band's anthemic
punk where socvopolitical themes meet a mix of crunch, medium fast rockers with melodic (at times bordering on poppy) hooks.
Lyrically the band refuses to let up as they take on a world gone off the rails with songs about class division, colonialism,
drone attacks, alienation, austerity, and boredom amongst other things with anthemic choruses and verses that cut to the quick
and take no prisoners as they call out for justice. While the music has always been breezy (and, in a just and sane world,
possibly even radio friendly) the band's tackling of thorny issues has always set them apart and this album is no exception.
I got to hear some of these songs live when I saw them play a couple weeks before the album's release and hearing them in
this form shows some of the nuances you don't always hear the first time around. It's an interesting call to action and
one that should be heard by more people. If you like Anti Flag you already have an idea what to expect but feel free to turns
fans of the corporate mersh version of pop punk onto this and see their reaction., (BOONE)
(Spinefarm/Universal)
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